Printing mechanism for business machines



March 22, 1960 N. CAPELLARO PRINTING MECHANISM FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Original Filed July 20, 1953 I NVENTOR NafnLc CHPE LLHRD United States Patent T MECHANISM FOR MACHINES Original application July 20, 1953, Seriai No. 369,059.

Divided and this application March 21, 1956, Serial No. 573,027

Claims priority, application Italy August 1, 1952 2 Claims. (Cl. 101-109) PRINTING BUSINESS This application is a divisional application divided out of my copending application Serial No. 369,059 filed on July 20, 1953 for a Computing Machine.

The present invention relates to printing mechanisms for computing machines and like business machines.

The printing mechanisms of the class described are usually provided with a set of type carriers, which are individually settable according to a selected type and which are movable toward a printing platen to print the corresponding digit or alphabetical symbol.

The invention is more specifically concerned with the type of printing mechanisms in which each type carrier is rotatably mounted on a movable support. These type carriers may be in the form either of type sectors or of type wheels. Type sectors are afiected by the disadvantage of having a high inertia, which makes them unsuitable for high speed printing mechanisms. Type wheels overcome this advantage, but in the printing mechanisms hitherto known the type wheels usually disengage from their individual actuators upon being moved toward the platen, thus introducing other difliculties.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages and to provide a high speed printing mechanism which is of simple manufacture and of reliable operation.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a printing mechanism wherein the type carriers are of low inertia and never disengage from their individual actuators.

In accordance with the invention I provide in a printing mechanism of the class described a type carrier settable according to a selected type and rotatably mounted on a movable support, an actuator for said type carrier, and a gear associated with said type carrier. I further provide therein a toothed member operable by said actuator and adapted to mesh with said gear, and means cooperating with said toothed member for enabling same to constantly mesh with said gear during operation of the toothed member.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which represents a partial left-hand longitudinal view through a ten-key adding and subtractnig machine embodying the invention.

The reference numeral designates a longitudinally movable actuator which is adapted to cooperate with the usual pin carriage 4 and with a register 17, as fully described in my copending application Serial Number 369,- 059 of July 20, 1953.

On each actuator 5 is pivoted at 141 a rack 14 which meshes with a pinion 15 pivoted to a slide 83. A type wheel 16 is secured to the pinion 15. The slides 83 are horizontally movable in slotted plates 88 and 88'. Each slide 83 is urged toward the platen by a spring 85 and is normally held in the position shown in the figure by a restoring bar 86 engaging a bent-over lug 84 projecting ice laterally from each slide 83. The restoring bar 86 is supported by two links 87 pivoted on a bail 11.

Each slide 83 is provided with a projection 831 in the path of which lies a bent-over lug 96 of a selectinglatch 961. The selecting latches 961 are engageable bya plate 95 rockably mounted in the machine frame. As in conventional adding machines, the purpose of the selecting latches 961 is that of selecting the slides 83 of the denominational orders wherein a digit is to be printed. To this end in these orders the selecting latches 961 are moved downwards by the plate 95.

On each slide 83 is secured a lug 97 which acts as a guide for the rack 14 to the purpose of maintaining it in constant mesh with the corresponding pinion 15.

As is more particularly described in my copending application, the machine is provided with a main operating mechanism which at each machine cycle rocks the bail 11 first in counterclockwise direction and then in a clockwise direction.

Upon rocking the bail 11 counterclockwise a restoring bar 10 secured thereto is lifted, thereby releasing the actuators 5. The actuators 5 are thus moved upwards by their springs 9 until arrested either by the pin carriage 4 or by the register 17', according to the type of operation performed, as is fully described in my copending application S.N. 369,059. The travel of each actuator 5 is transmitted through the rack 14 and the pinion 15 to the corresponding type wheel 16, which is set according to the digit to be printed.

At the same time the links 87 move the restoring bar 86 to the left and the slides 83 follow in this direction under the action of their springs 85. However, after a short travel each slide 83 is arrested by the lug 96 of the corresponding latch 961. Thereupon the latches 961 of the denominational orders in which a digit is to be printed are lowered by means of the plate 95, thereby unlatching the respective slides 83. Under the action of their springs the slides 83 move thus to the left and effect printing.

Upon the return stroke of the bail 11 in a clockwise direction the restoring bar 86 restores the slides 83 to normal.

During the movement of the slide 83 the lug 97 engages the rack 14 and maintains the same in constant mesh with the corresponding pinion 15. It will thus be apparent that, in contrast to known type wheel structures customarily used in calculating machines, the type wheels 16 never disengage from their actuators, with the result of a highly simplified and reliable construction.

It will be apparent from the figure that the rack 14 is bent twice at 142 and 143, whereby the meshing point of the rack 14 with the pinion 15 is offset to the right with respect to a vertical line traced through the axis of the pivot 141. The distance of the meshing point from said vertical line is substantially the half of the extent of the travel of the slide 83 towards the platen. Therefore, in the printing position of the type wheel 16 the meshing point will be located at the same distance from the pivot axis 141 as in the position of rest and the height of the type located at the printing point will thus remain un affected by the movement of the slide 83.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that many changes may be made in the above construction, and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing mechanism of the class described a platen, a type carrier settable according to a selected type and rotatably mounted on a support movable according 3 to a first direction towards said platen to efiect an impression, an actuator recip-rocablymovable in a second direction for setting said type'carrier, a gear associated with said type carrier, a rack pivotallly mounted on said actuator and constantly meshing with said gear, and means for moving said supportand said actuator-substantially simultaneously to concurrentlyselectsaid type and advance said support towards said-platen.

2. In a printing mechanism: of the. ciass described a platen, a type carrier setta-ble according to a selected type and rotatably mounted on a support, said-support being movable in a first directionthrough a forward: stroke to ward said platen: to effect an impression and through a to said actuator and reciprocating therewith for setting said type carrier byrotating thesameonsaid support,

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED- STATES PATENTS 1,240,256 Quentell. Sept. 18, 1917 1,508,532 Quentell Sept. 16, 1924 1,780,674 Ewald Nov. 4, 1930 1,902,060 Dechene Mar. 21, 1933 1,909,550 Pierce May 16, 1933 1,971,859 Knutsen Aug. 28, 1934 2,165,922 Garbell July 11, 1939 2,346,265 Mehan Apr. 11, 1944 2,492,263 Boyden Dec. 27, 1949 

